Kukla's Korner Hockey

Category: Ottawa-Senators

Jiri Novotny has signed a two-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the club announced on Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed.
The 23-year-old rookie split time between the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals in 2006/07

Ottawa Senators:Sportsnet.ca’s trade tracker notes that both Matt Carkner (1 year) and Danny Bois (2 years) have been signed by the club. No financial terms available.

Now that the Bruins have acquired G Manny Fernandez from the Wild, it’s doubtful Emery will get a Group II offer sheet. However, Emery’s agent, J.P. Barry, said yesterday he will file for arbitration by the July 5 deadline. “I know that (Murray) wanted to get through free agency and then he said we’d sit down to discuss a new deal. I look forward to having those discussions,” said Barry.

Confusing? Heck yeah. So, here’s an example that I’ve heard may go down: Ottawa goalie Ray Emery is a RFA, but could be tendered an offer by the L.A. Kings for a lot more money. If he signs the offer sheet and Ottawa decides to let Emery walk, L.A. owes Ottawa a number of draft picks commensurate to how much offered Emery.
If L.A. offers Emery between $3.52-$4.69, the price is a first, second and third-round pick. If the deal is for more, it’s two first rounders, a second and a third. If the contract is for more than $5.9 mil per season, the Kings owe four first round picks (and they need to see a phychiatrist pronto.)

It’s more likely Ottawa will focus on the second tier of free agents.
That could include forwards like Bill Guerin, Robert Lang or Dainius Zubrus..
Murray, who replaced John Muckler on June 18, is in a difficult spot.
The Senators have spent about $42 million on 16 players for next season and that’s before a raise for goalie Ray Emery has been factored into the equation.
The Senators would like to keep centre Mike Comrie, who made $3 million last season, but Murray has indicated he just doesn’t have the money. Expect to see the Maple Leafs and Capitals make a pitch for Comrie.

J.P. Barry, Emery’s Calgary-based agent, confirmed yesterday he has had talks with two teams willing to make the Senators goalie an offer sheet as a restricted free agent.
“He is an elite goalie so I’m not surprised by the fact some teams would consider making an offer for his services,” said Barry, co-managing director of CAA Sports.
Boston, St. Louis and Los Angeles are believed to be among the teams looking for goaltending help and may have held discussions with Barry about the 24-year-old Emery.

Because of his age, Emery might be the only attractive restricted free agent out there. Should Emery be offered a contract worth less than $4.5 million per season, all it would cost the team making the offer is a first-, second- and third-round draft pick in 2008.
If you think that’s a high price to pay, think again.
That’s pretty much what the Toronto Maple Leafs gave the San Jose Sharks to get goalie Vesa Toskala before the first round of the draft on Friday at Nationwide Arena.
Conversations between agents and teams for restricted free agents can begin today, but no offer sheets can be tendered until July 1. There are plenty of teams—including St. Louis, Boston, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay—looking for goaltending help.

The Senators’ blue line could look vastly different next season.
While GM Bryan Murray continues to listen to offers for Wade Redden and shops Joe Corvo, the agent for Tom Preissing indicated his client won’t return to the club.
“It’s not likely (Preissing) will be back in Ottawa,” Ben Hankinson of Octagon Hockey told the Sun in an e-mail before last night’s NHL entry draft at Nationwide Arena.
An unrestricted free agent on July 1 who made $600,000 (all terms US) last season, Preissing will be priced out of the Senators market in any case.
It’s believed the 28-year-old defenceman will draw plenty of interest on the open market and will attract offers in excess of $2.5 million.

The Oilers and Flyers could be trying to land a big one before tonight’s NHL draft.
League sources say both teams may have made calls to Devils GM Lou Lamoriello about acquiring the negotiating rights to centre Scott Gomez, who will become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
It’s believed the Oilers, who have three first-round picks, can offer the most attractive package to the Devils.

Wade Redden has declared he wants to stay with the Senators, but it hasn’t stopped teams from knocking on Bryan Murray’s door.
While the Senators GM confirmed yesterday he’s had “a couple” of inquiries about the future of the veteran defenceman in Ottawa, sources say Murray has been holding intense discussions with Oilers GM Kevin Lowe.
With Round 1 of the NHL draft set for tonight at Nationwide Arena, there was talk the Senators could send Redden and winger Antoine Vermette to the Oilers for centre Shawn Horcoff and defenceman Jason Smith. It’s believed the Senators would prefer winger Joffrey Lupul over Horcoff.